Apparatus for casting lead ballast



01$ 9 A. A. WASHTON 2,332,956

APPARATUS FOR CASTING LEAD BALLAST File d June 25, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1A A/um A Wasfifm M A By M A W W j /momeys 1943- A. A. wAsHToN 2,332,956

APPARATUS FOR CASTING LEAD BALLAST Filed June 25 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2WI r 6 & i A q Axm xmm /7 W MT-ru Patented Oct. 26, 1943 D STATES PATENTA P RAT S FOR F IC /Ts Abram A. Washton, NewLondon, Conn. ApplicationJune 25, 1942, Serial No. 448,461

1 Claim.

The invention relates to improved apparatus forpouring both virgin andsecondary lead for theproduction of what areknown as Afpigs as used forballast in submarines, the primary object of the invention being toprovide apparatus for this purpose which eliminates the surfaceirregularities, and hence deviations in form .and Weight of the pigs,which results from presently used apparatus, and thereby eliminate thefinishingoperations now required to make the pigs uniform in shape andcross section and in Weight. 1 i Other important objects and advantagesof the inventionwill be apparent from a reading of the followingdescription taken in connection with the appended drawings, wherein forpurposes of illustration a preferred embodiment of the mold of thepresent invention is shown.

The A pig which is used for ballast in submarines measures 3%" weight isapproximately 55% pounds. As now practiced the pouring of these pigs isdone in a mold having a 14" long surface and a side wall height of 3/8", with the result that when the pig is poured and has cooled 011,there is a pronounced depression in the middle of the top 14" surface,the only cure for which is to pour additional lead into the depressionand fill it and finish off the resulting surface to trueness. Inpractice it is rare that a perfectly smooth surface results on therepaired side of the pig, although considerable time and expense areexpended in that aim. I

In accordance with the method of the present invention instead of thepouring being done in a horizontally elongated mold of usualconstruction, the pouring is done in a vertically elongated mold of acertain character described herein,

with the result that all four sides of the resultant pigs and the topsand bottoms thereof are absolutely smooth and true, with the exceptionof a slight depression, about the size of a ten-cent piece, on the upperend disregarded or can be relatively easily and inexpensively trued up.The importance of the regular smooth and geometrically perfect sides ofthe pig will be apparent when it is considered that it is important toeliminate air spaces between the pigs as they are laid longitudinallyupon each other in the submarines for ballast purposes, such air spacesoccurring when the sides of the pigs are irregular as now produced, theresult of such air spaces being uneven and insecure packing of theballast pigs. As the result of the present method and apparatus, thecontact between x 3 x 14" and its of the pig, which can be the pigs whenpacked for ballast purposes is substantially geometrically perfect, sothat. air spaces are eliminated, and better i and tighter packing areallowed, thereby saving space and eliminating to a substantialextent thedanger of shifting of the ballast; i i

t To suitably and sufficiently carry out the process of the presentinvention it is-necessary ;to have a sectional mold, the sections ofwhich are of substantially equal heat absorbing characteristic anduniform trueness, and s0 arranged that the point ofseparation of; thesections will; be at the corners of the pigs; otherwisewpigs ofnonuniform density and non-uniform contour will re sult. 'I'he molddisclosedherein admirably lends itself to the conduct ofthe presentmethod with the highest type of result.v

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein a preferred type of mold inaccordance with the present invention is shown:

Figure 1 is a general side elevational view.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view.

Figure 4 is an isometric view showing the two sections of a mold unit inpartly separated relation.

Figure 5 is a Figure 6 is yoke.

Figure 7 is a A p g Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 5generally designates the plural mold in accordance with the presentinvention, the same comprising a fiat horizontal base 6 of suitablemetal or other suitable material, upon which rest in perpendicular orother substantially vertical position a plurality of mold units 1, eachconsisting of a pair of similar mold sections 8 and 9 having the lowerends straight out and squared to rest flush on the top of the base 6.

Each of the sections 8 and 9 of the mold units are exactly similar incross section and rise to the same level above the base 6, each saidsection consisting of an L-shaped cross section body, one arm of theL-shape being squared and unmutilated as indicated by the numeral I0 andthe other arm having its terminal portion cut away at its inner side asindicated by the numeral II to define a rectangular notch running thefull height of the section. As indicated in the drawings the sectionsare assembled upon the base 6 with the unmutilated squared ends I0seated in the grooves II, the grooves H being of perspective view of theclamp. a perspective view of the clamp perspective view of one of thedicated in Figure 2 of the drawings, with the extreme left hand moldunit engaging the bight portion l5 of the clamp frame; The free ends ofthe legs l4 have reduced extensions lfi formed A r,

thereon which have openings l1 accommodating removable stop pins l8.Theblamping yoke 19 consists of an adequately rigid metal bar l9 whichhas vertical slots opening through the opposite end: portions thereof:and: of substantially thearsamei shapel as'thev extensions: lie on thefree ends of the" clamp: framelegs; witl'r a threadedz hole: win-themiddleof the yoke to nireadably receive the pressure screw-22 which hasa rotatably connected pressure-head: 23:"01'1 its inner end to engageth'e end sectionof the extremerighthand mold unitia's indicated inFigur'esfl' and 3- of the drawings. It'will be obvious that with-themold unit's in place (in-the base and the -clamp frame T3 in place,-with the yoke IS on the extension' is and with the pins [-3 in place,operation' bf the screw 22 by: any suitable means in alongitudinally--inward direction will compress the mold section's towardthe bightportion l5" of the clamp f rame, thereby securely and exactly assemblingtl'ie mold unitsfor the pouring operation. The molten lead is pouredinto the upper ends of the mold units and when cool the screw 22 isrelaxed, the clamping frame 13 is taken off, and the sections of themold units are separated from the pigs.

Having described the invention, claimed as new is;

Apparatus for casting square lead pigs comprising a horizontal base, aplurality of vertical mold units resting on said base and embodyingvertical chambers closed at their lower ends by said base and open attheir upper ends to receive what is molten lead, said chambers beinguniformly square in cross section from end to end, each mold unitcomprising a pair of similar removable sectionsL-shaped in horizontalcross section and characterized by similar mass and heat absorbency, theinner side of one wing of each section being notched to conformablyreceive an unmutilated portion of a wing of another section; whereby thesections; Wh'ehassembled, provide a substantially square" cross sectionhollow block with the lines of separation between thesections beingprecisely located at diagonally opposite corners of saidcl'lamber-s, anda removable clampframe enclosing and engaging the moldunits andassembling thesame in side-byside relation on the'bas'e, said frameconsistin of a U shape with the legs engagingopposite sidesof themol'cl'unit's and' with' the biglit' engagingthe end of one extreme-moldunit, a yoke removably mounted on the free ends of said legs, anchoringm'eans ibr the yoke, and ap1-essure screw on saidyokeengagingthewen'd ofthe the opposite extreme mold unit.

ABHAM A; WASHTON'.

